The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-01-27
France and Germany.

France and Germany.
The German Reichstag was GROVE,
Tuesday, the occasion being the calling VI
J the Governments Military bill IN it
J amended form for second reading. Gen
Won Moltke opened the debate in favor O
the second reading on behalf of the gov
eminent. Baron Snauffenberg followed
General Won Moltke, and while he wa.
speaking, Prince Bismarck entered the
chamber. Prince Bismarck rose and il
the course of his speech, said: Our re
lations with France continue good. re
maintain them is difficult, because long
historical process must be accomplished be-
fore the feelings of the past are appeased and
differences reconciled. We have done ey.
erything to induce the French to forget
and forgive. We have no present ground
oapprehend war with France. Neither
have we any reason to fear it if it should
happen. There can be no question about
our attacking France, but we must protect
ourselves against attacks. Under no Cir
cumstances shall we attack France, but
we shall always be compelled to arm our
selves in such a manner as to be equal to
the contingency of war. This is the su-
preme object of the army bill. l have firm
confidence in the peaceful disposition Of
the French Government and a portion of
the French people, Still, the past teaches
us that we cannot count upon peace with
France as permanent. A government
may one day come into power at Paris
which will make war upon us. This you
must take into account. If we do not
prepare-if you say to-day, when war
comes we shall grant everything we
should be laughed at Is there in France
a single paper or a single public person who
says we renounce our rights to Alsace-
Lorraine % The possibility of French
motive for the bill. France is a
strong and we'll armed power her army is
braye and ready to fight, We must meyer
sit idle with our hands in onr laps, how
ever peaceful France may look for the mo-
ment. Suppose the French proved victo
rious, what would we have to expect? We
should have the same French against us
from whom We suffered from 1907 to 1913,
and who would again so suck our blood
that we would be paralyzed for 80 years.
Endeavors would Le made to permanent
ly weaken us. Such demands would be |
made as Give US Hanover am only de-
scribing possibilities that might arise In
the event of our defeat. The peace of |
1870 is mere child's play in comparison |
with what peace would be after war in
1890, He who wishes to take the respon-
sibility for this, let him. Understand |
now, that we absolutely adhere to our de- !
mand for the septennate. We cannot |
give away even hairbreadth. Applause
from the right Who can guarantee
always the same majority in this house
Do you wish to make the rise and fall of |
the German army dependent upon major
tiles in the Reichstag ? By doing SO you
change the imperial army into parlia-
mentary force, You can hardly expect |
that the Emperor, in his ninetieth year,
will contribute to the destruction of the |
work to which he has devoted the last |
thirty of his life-the creation of Germany
and the army of the German empire. If
you believe that possible (; if you awaken
the slightest suspicion that these are your
aims, and if you do not speedily satisfy
the wishes Of the federal government re-
garding the defensive powers of Germany,
by complete acceptance of the bill, then
we prefer to deal with another Reichstag.
We will enter into no further negotiations
with you. AS it is, we must now insist
upon our demands
The French Chambers were re opened
Tuesday. NJ. Blanc, provisional president
of the Chamber of Deputies, expressed the
wish that the session would be more for
tunate than the last one, and inaugurate
policy of progress and economy. Union
was an absolute necessity to the republi-
can party, and also supremacy needful at
the present time. He appealed to the dep
uties to work in harmony, in order that
reforms may be realized NJ. Floquet was
reelected president of the Chamber OF
Deputies. In the Senate, NJ. Sadi- Carnot, T!
who presided, said there were two condi-
tions essential to the prosperity of France
stability within the nation and peace
abroad. To exhibit France as impatient
for war was merely an artifce used to re-
move hesitation in certain parliaments. =
The national spirit of the French people
had no Deed to be revived, he said, by fear
Of any foreign power. No military party
exist in France, for the army was essen
italy a civic body. The country desired
peace, but should events occur. contrary to
its wishes, it would prove that it had not
lost time during the past fifteen years.
The government has decided to increase
this years extraordinary military credit
from 50,0O0,OOO to 96,0OO,OO0 francs.
"a Mo-